INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH CHAPTER 9

Zebulun and Naphtali was a land that death overshadowed and Isaiah prophecies that it will be a place where light will spring up─a son will be born and given the throne of David and his kingdom was to be henceforth forever. This was going to happen and did happen when Christ came and lived in Galilee of the Gentiles. More prophecies regarding the invasion of Israel by the Syrians and Philistines and the cutting off of the head and tail of Israel, then he denounces their leaders for destroying the nation and bringing on a crises─their wickedness is likened to a raging forest fire that destroys everything before it. Finally the land is darkened and this overshadowed death hole results in their eating their own flesh. Read the exposition for more fine points.

EXPOSITION TO ISAIAH CHAPTER 9

1Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.

In former times the land of Zebulun and Naphtali had been afflicted but in the future these very lands would be filled with glory. These people had felt the first brunt of the invasion of Assyria. She is called Galilee of the nations because Assyria had taken the Jews into captivity and repopulated the country with other nationalities.

CROSS REFERENCE SCRIPTURES

THAT CORROBORATE THE TEXT:

1Ki 15:19-20There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold; come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me. So Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. Read: 2Ki 15:29; 2Ch 16:4; 1Ch 5:26

2The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

These people had walked in a death shadowed land for generations and now there is a ray of hope, the son of righteousness is going to shine on them. Jesus the light of the world will live in this dark region.

CROSS REFERENCE SCRIPTURES

THAT MAKE THE CASE:

Mat 4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. Read: Mat 4:16; Isa 60:1-3; Isa 60:19; Mic 7:8-9; Luk 1:78-79; Luk 2:32

3Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

The nation had increased with migrants and still walked in darkness till the “Son of Righteousness” appeared with healing in his wings. There was abundant joy and exuberating when Christ came. It is compared to the joy of an abundant harvest or booty taken in war. It was a festival of joy and great celebration.

CROSS REFERENCE SCRIPTURES

THAT ILLUMINATE THE TEXT:

Isa 25:9-10 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Read: Isa 26:15; Isa 49:22; Neh 9:23; Zec 2:11; Zec 10:8

4For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.

God had removed the cross bar from their shoulder and taken the goad or whip from the driver and freed them from their captivity like what had happened in the days of Gideon.

CROSS REFERENCE SCRIPTURES

THAT INDORSE THE TEXT:

Isa 14:25 That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders. Read Isa 47:6; Jer 30:8; Nah 1:13

5For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.

All the clothing of these invading solders will be soaked in blood and burned in a large fire.

CROSS REFERENCE SCRIPTURES

THAT LEND EVIDENCE TO THE TEXT:

Isa 37:36 Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. Read: Psa 46:9; Eze 39:8-10

6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

This verse predicts the coming of Jesus. He is not only a child but he is a son and his name shall be called wonderful: He is our advocate ∞ Lamb of God ∞ The Resurrection & The Life ∞ Shepherd and Bishop of Our Soul ∞ Judge ∞ Lord of Lords ∞ Man of Sorrows ∞ Head of the Church ∞ Master ∞ Faithful & True Witness ∞ Rock ∞ High Priest ∞ The Door ∞ Living Water ∞ Bread of Life ∞ Rose of Sharon ∞ Alpha & Omega ∞ True Vine ∞ Messiah ∞ Good Shepherd ∞ Light of the World ∞ Image of the Invisible God ∞ The Word ∞ Chief Cornerstone ∞ Savior ∞ Servant ∞ Author and Finisher of Our Faith ∞ The Almighty ∞ Everlasting Father ∞ Shiloh ∞ Lion of the Tribe of Judah ∞I Am ∞ King of Kings ∞ Prince of Peace ∞ Bridegroom ∞ Only Begotten Son ∞ Dayspring ∞ The Amen ∞ King of the Jews ∞ Prophet ∞ Redeemer ∞ Anchor ∞ Bright and Morning Star ∞ The Way, The Truth & The Life. He is our Messiah!

CROSS REFERENCE SCRIPTURES

THAT DEMONSTRATE THE TEXT:

Luk 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Luk 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Read Joh 1:1-3;

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

7Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

The government of this ruler was to be a government of peace that would have no end and he was to sit upon the throne of David and rule henceforth forever. Jesus is declared to be the son of David and the scriptures proclaim that he was to sit upon David’s throne. On the day of Pentecost Peter preached that Jesus was resurrected and was seated on David’s throne. I have quoted the scriptures─you decide!

CROSS REFERENCE SCRIPTURES

THAT ILLUSTRATE THE TEXT:

2Sa 7:16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

The prophet returns to speaking about Jacob and Israel─Jacob is the head and Israel is the people who sprang from him.

CROSS REFERENCE SCRIPTURES

THAT AUTHENTICATE THE TEXT:

Mic 1:1-9 The word of the LORD that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord GOD be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple. For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth. And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place. For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of Judah? are they not Jerusalem? Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the field, and as plantings of a vineyard: and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and I will discover the foundations thereof. And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire, and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate: for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, and they shall return to the hire of an harlot.Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls. For her wound is incurable; for it is come unto Judah; he is come unto the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem.

9And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart,

This group of people was rebellious and lacked a proper respect for God and was filled with pride and arrogance.

CROSS REFERENCE SCRIPTURES

THAT ATTEST TO THE TEXT:

Isa 10:10-11 As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria; Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?

10The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.

This group of people was so haughty that they were saying if disaster comes we will rebuild better than before and if the army cuts down our sycamores then we will replant them with cedar trees.

CROSS REFERENCE SCRIPTURES

THAT PRESENT OVERWHELMING PROOF

OF THE TEXT:

1Ki 7:9-12 All these were of costly stones, according to the measures of hewed stones, sawed with saws, within and without, even from the foundation unto the coping, and so on the outside toward the great court. And the foundation was of costly stones, even great stones, stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits. And above were costly stones, after the measures of hewed stones, and cedars. And the great court round about was with three rows of hewed stones, and a row of cedar beams, both for the inner court of the house of the LORD, and for the porch of the house.

Mal 1:4 Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.

11Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;

God is going to stir up the Assyrians and cause Israel’s enemies to join with Rezin.

CROSS REFERENCE SCRIPTURES

THAT ATTEST TO THE TEXT:

2Ki 15:29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.

12The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

Syria from the East and the Philistines from the West are going to take on Israel with open mouth and gulp them down but God is still angry and his hand is ready to strike.

CROSS REFERENCE SCRIPTURES

THAT ARE CONCLUSIVE AND FINAL:

2Ki 16:6 At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day.

2Ch 28:18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.

Psa 79:7 For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.

13For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts.

They didn’t come looking for him and they didn’t come running to him. God had chastened them but they still would not repent.

CROSS REFERENCE SCRIPTURES

THAT RATIFY THE TEXT:

2Ch 28:22 And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz. Read: Isa 10:4; Isa 57:17; Jer 5:3

14Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.

God hacked of the head─big headed elders were the head─lying prophets were the tail.

CROSS REFERENCE SCRIPTURES THAT

BEAR OUT THE TEXT:

Isa 19:15 Neither shall there be any work for Egypt, which the head or tail, branch or rush, may do. Read: 2Ki 17:16-20; Isa 29:10; 1Ki 13:18; 1Ki 22:22-24

Hos 8:8 Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.

15The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.

The head is the authorities and the tail is the ones that give lying assurances.

CROSS REFERENCE SCRIPTURES THAT

SPEAK VOLUMES ABOUT THE TEXT:

1Ki 22:22-24 And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee. But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?

Jer 5:31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

16For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.

Their leaders had led them down the path to ruin they promised them that all was well to their own undoing.

CROSS REFERENCE SCRIPTURES

THAT SHED LIGHT ON THE TEXT:

Mat 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Mat 23:16-17 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?

17Therefore the LORD shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

The nation as a whole had become very corrupt both young and old. It was therefore appropriate that God would have no joy in them. They were hypocritical and dirty mouthed.

CROSS REFERENCE SCRIPTURES

THAT VERIFY THE TEXT:

Isa 13:18Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.

Jer 18:21 Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let their young men be slain by the sword in battle.

18For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.

This lawlessness and ungodliness had blazed like a never ending fire in a forest with deep underbrush and now it had come back to burn them.

CROSS REFERENCE SCRIPTURES THAT

GIVE COUNTEREVIDENCE TO THE TEXT:

Mal 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. Read: Isa 66:16; Isa 33:12; Nah 1:10

19Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother.

Through the vengeance of the Lord the country was ravaged, burned black and scorched by his fury. In this time of war each was fighting to steal the others food.

CROSS REFERENCE SCRIPTURES

THAT CONFIRM THE TEXT:

Isa 24:11-12There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone. In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction. Read: Jer 13:16; Amo 5:18

20And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:

They were fighting over the food allotment─no one had enough and conditions worsen and finally they eat their own children.

CROSS REFERENCE SCRIPTURES THAT

GIVE AUTHORITIVE DATA TO THE TEXT:

Lev 26:26-29And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied. And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me;Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat. Read: Jer 19:9; Lam 4:10

21Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

Manasseh tore at Ephraim and Ephraim thirsts for the blood of Manasseh and both were against Judah. God’s anger was not turned away─his hand still poised to strike them.

CROSS REFERENCE SCRIPTURES THAT

CARRY WEIGHT REGARDING THE TEXT:

1Sa 14:20 And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture. Read: 2Ch 28:6-8